Progressive form apparatus for concrete construction

ABSTRACT

A progressive form supporting frame box including adjustable poured concrete wall forming panels to be raised along a climb rod disposed in, and withdrawn after completion of, the wall section, in combination with a mechanical lift jack unit comprised of a housing securable to the form box top with the climb-rod therethrough, a lift pair of opposed jaws on opposite sides of the rod a similar pair of support jaws spaced therefrom along the rod, the pairs alternatingly grippable and releasable for lifting the combination along the rod. The jack is power operated through a portable electric motor unit, such as an electric drill, acting through a motion converting mechanism directly on the lift jaw pair. The jack may be inverted for use in withdrawing the rod from the finished work.

Unite States atent 1151 3,692,445 Kubitzek [4 1 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] PROGRESSIVE FORM APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Konrad Kubitzek, Am Eichenbusch 7, 504 Bruhl near Cologne, Germany Filed: Aug. 20, 1970 Appl. No.: 72,563

Inventor:

Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 26, 1969 Germany ..P 19 43 242.9

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1966 Johansson et al ..249/20 X 1l/1921 Convert ..25/l31 SB 1/1971 Svensson ..249/20 3/ 1954 Fredrickson ..25/ 131 SB X 11/1959 Sampson et a1. ..25/l3l SB 558.255 12/ 1943 Great Britain ..249/20 217,200 9/1961 Austria ..25/l3l SB 730,813 12/1942 Germany ..25/l3l SB Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant ExaminerBen D. Tobor Att0rneyEly, Goln'ck & Flynn [5 7] ABSTRACT A progressive form supporting frame box including adjustable poured concrete wall forming panels to be raised along a climb rod disposed in, and withdrawn after completion of, the wall section, in combination with a mechanical lift jack unit comprised of a housing securable to the form box top with the climb-rod therethrough, a lift pair of opposed jaws on opposite sides of the rod a similar pair of support jaws spaced therefrom along the rod, the pairs altematingly grippable and releasable for lifting the combination along the rod. The jack is power operated through a portable electric motor unit, such as an electric drill, acting through a motion converting mechanism directly on the lift jaw pair. The jack may be inverted for use in withdrawing the rod from the finished work.

15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEBSEF 19 m2 SHEET 2 BF 7 INVENTOR KONRAO KUBITZ- ATTYs,

PATENTEU \972 3.692.445

SHEET 3 OF 7 KONRAD KUBITZEK BY ATT'Ys.

INVEN TOR PATENTEDSEP 19 m2 SHEET 0F 7 FIGA INVENTOR KONRAD KUBITZEK BY I ?/L}Wn,

AT TYs.

PATENTEDSENQ I972 3592445 SHEET 5 BF 7 INVENTOR KONRAD KUBITZEK PATENTEBSEP 19 1972 SHEU 6 OF 7 INVENTOR KONRAD KUBITZEK g jww W M AT TYs.

PATENTEU E 19 i9 3 692 ,445

SHEET 7 BF 7 FIGJO INVENTOR KONRAO KUBITZEK g 521M a AT TYs.

PROGRESSIVE FORM APPARATUS FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION The present invention is generally concerned with improvements in progressive form apparatus for concrete construction comprising a frame box in which the form panels preferably are adjustably secured, a climbing rod disposed in the concrete cross section within the frame box; and a drive device or jack mechanism, disposed on the frame box and lifting the latter by a jacking engagement with the climb rod.

For the building of concrete structures for some time progressive forming apparatus have been known wherein either interiorly or exteriorly of the concrete cross section of the wall to be poured, there are disposed so-called climb rods, along which there is upwardly moved, by means of a Windlass or other lift device, a frame carrying form elements or panels between which the concrete wall or the like is poured.

. This form supporting frame may at the same time carry a work scaffold or platform.

Such a frame together with the associated form elements and platform by the hoist or lift means is moved continually or incrementally upwards along the climb rod or rods; the reinforcement for the concrete is arranged between the forming elements and the pour space therebetween is filled with concrete. During the upward movement of this combination, as a whole designated as a progressive forming apparatus, even as the form elements are slid upwardly on the concrete the latter sets.

As a rule, there are used hydraulic or pneumatic lift devices hung upon the climb rods and themselves in turn carrying the forming support frame. The required numerous lift cylinders with associated pressurizing means, piping, control valves, etc., are disadvantageous not only because of structural and cost considerations, but also because they impede the operations of placing the reinforcement and concrete pouring. Moreover in such cases it is very difficult to attain an absolutely uniform motion of the progressive forming apparatus, so that highly qualified persons must be employed for operating the lift cylinders.

Above all however with such known apparatus as a rule the force application on the climbing rods is off center, or produces couples, so that the rods are subjected to a bending loading which on the one hand renders it necessary that the rods be dimensioned correspondingly large, or on the other hand also leads to sagging, which can influence the dimensional tolerances of the concrete construction so prepared.

The basic object of the invention is to obviate these disadvantages of prior progressive form apparatus, and others known to technical men of this field or given in the following description. A more particular object is to provide apparatus in which the force application of the jack mechanism on the climb rods is perfectly centralized or symmetrical so that the rods in practical sense undergo no bending stresses.

In a progressive forming apparatus of the type described these objects of the invention are attained by disposing the jack drive mechanisms symmetrically on the climb rod for a centered force application to avoid applying bending couples. Considering the invention in detail, the drive mechanism is comprised of two pairs of gripping jaws, in lift and holding jaw assemblies respectively; the jaws in each pair respectively disposed on 5 jaws are supported for engagement with the rod by eccentrics between parallel support plates forming a respective jaw carriage, with the eccentrics of each jaw pair carried by lever arms pivoting in the carriage and in turn connected by links either to a vertically reciprocating coupling element disposed about and movable along the rod by motor power in the case of the lift jaw pair or, for the support jaw pair, to the mechanism housing.

Preferably the coupling element is engaged in the ends of two pivoting connecting rods extending generally parallel to the climb rod and having their other ends pivotally secured to eccentrics on respective driving gear disks rotatably supported on opposite sides of the climb rod by the housing of the lift device or jack mechanism.

In each jaw mechanism assembly, a pair of guide bars, extending parallel to the climb rod, slideably guide the carriage for the grip jaws and jaw actuating eccentrics, and have disposed thereon respective heli' cal compression springs each of which at one end bear against a fixed abutment or a spring adjusting nut threaded on its guide bar and on the other against the carriage; the guide bars for the lift jaw assembly being secured on the coupling element, and those of the support jaw assembly on the jack housing.

The eccentric carrying disks of the preferred gear form mesh with pinions keyed to a housing-supported drive shaft on which in turn is secured a gear meshing with a housing-supported worm connectable with a drive motor. Appropriately, as means for coupling to a drive motor, the worm shaft has a rectangular shank with which the drive or output shaft of an electric motor is connectable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each grip jaw has a debris-gathering groove running parallel to the climb rod, in which dirt, rust, grease, etc. can gather, so that the engagement between the grip jaws and the rod is not affected, and from which grooves the accumulated debris from time to time can easily be removed by a wire. Further, at least at the upper and lower ends, the grip jaws have teeth for promoting the force applying engagement with the climb rod; and these jaws may be secured by bands to their respective eccentrics.

A progressive forming apparatus in accordance with the invention will be structurally simple, entails comparatively low operating and maintenance costs, is outstanding by a long service life, offers little impediment to the reinforcement and concrete pouring work. The control of the driving mechanism is easy. According to a preferred embodiment the drive of the apparatus can be achieved by means of a portable relatively small electrical motor. Moreover the driving mechanism can also be used for climb rod withdrawal from the finished work.

Further objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of one embodiment serving only for explanation and not in any way for limitation of the scope of the invention, and which is represented in the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic or generalized representation, partially in section, showing a progressive forming apparatus shortly after the beginning of operations;

FIG. 1a is a detail sectional view of a form plate adjusting device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation, enlarged in comparison with FIG. 1, partially broken away, of the housing of the jack or lift unit, wherein for simplicity of general understanding, the characteristic driving mechanism is omitted;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section, through the jack or lift unit showing details of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken at right angles to that of FIG. 3, as indicated by the line .IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a detail vertical section taken as indicated by the line VV in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sections through the lift jaw assembly taken respectively as indicated by the lines VI VI and VIIVII in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a section taken through the support or locking jaw assembly of the jack as indicated by the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 shows schematically the engagement of a portable driving motor with the mechanism of the jack device;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the upper jaw assembly with a portion removed; and

FIG. 1 1 is a detail view showing the gripping side of a modified toothless jaw form providing rather two fiat angularly disposed vertical faces each providing a line contact with the climb rod for effective gripping.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROGRESSIVE FORMING First with respect to the schematic FIG. 1 the progressive form method of concrete construction is briefly outlined. A form supporting frame box is designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 10, and a lift or jack mechanism similarly by the general reference numeral 12, the latter being hereinafter described in detail. The frame 10 is a rigid structure comprised of a top structure 14, extending transversely to a wall to be poured, and, secured to and extending downwardly from the top structure, elongated vertical elements 16 on the inner side of which in turn through transverse supports 18 there are secured the plates or form panels 20, between which the concrete body 21 poured.

In practice the form panels are supported in the frame 10 not quite parallel as shown, but with a shallow upward convergence or taper; so that the lower edges of the plates have a slight spacing from the finished concrete wall portion, while at the place where the concrete sets, the plate spacing is equal to the thickness of the concrete section or wall to be constructed. To obtain this oblique or slanting disposition of the plates and likewise also to enable adjustment of the spacing, normally suitable adjusting devices are disposed between the frame and ultimately the plates 20. Accordingly the transverse supports 18 are here designated as adjustable mounts for the plates 20.

To the bottom of the transverse top structure 14 there is secured a sheathe tube 22 surrounding rod 23 to move upwardly with the frame 10, so that within the finished concrete there remains a free circumferential space about the rod advantageously facilitating subsequent removal of the latter. Preferably, for the described invention, the device 12 is removably invertably securable on 10.

The jacking or lift mechanism 12 secured upon the top end of the frame box 10, the subject of further particular description for the present invention, draws itself along with the frame box 10 upwardly along the climb rod 23. With such apparatus after appropriate set up as indicated in FIG. 1, as the work of reinforcement placement (where used) and of pouring proceeds, the forms 20 are raised either slowly and continuously, or incrementally at intervals, in any event with such rate of progression overall that at any given level, the concrete has set to the appropriate dimension before the bottom edges of panels 20 pass such level.

LIFT OR JACK DEVICE The housing of the jack or lift device 12, (see FIG. 2) as a welded rigid structure, is comprised of top, middle and bottom wall plates 25, 26, 27,joined through right angle section longitudinal members 28 and having respectively the centrally located apertures 29, 30 and 31 for the climb rod 23 extending therethrough.

Opposed diametric elongations or side notches 29a of the top plate hole permit insertion, for example, of a wire for cleaning dirt gathering grooves provided in the climb rod gripping jaws hereinafter described. Several upright plates 32, 58, and lugs 63 welded on the mid plate 26, and similarly on the bottom plate 27, anchor lugs 33 and fixed nuts 34, are provided for mounting the mechanism components of the hereinafter described lift jaw assembly and actuating means therefor, located in the top half or lift mechanism section of the housing, and of a support or retaining jaw assembly disposed in the lower half or support jaw section of the jack housing.

LIFT J AW ASSEMBLY In the upper or lift jaw assembly, (see especially FIGS. 3, 4, 6) two parallel plates 36a, disposed parallel on opposites of rod 23 and each having at its top center a horizontal laterally extending perforated ear 37, form a carriage 36 for eccentric elements 39 and the respectively associated lift gripping jaws 40. Eccentrics 39 disposed on opposite sides of the rod 23 are rotatably supported between the plates at opposite carriage ends by means of respective pivot means 38, Each eccentric includes an integral lever arm, on the outer projecting actuating end of which by pivot means 43 respective embracing links 44 are pivoted, the other ends in turn through a pin 45 also connected pivotally embracing the respective end of a coupling element body 46. Each pivot means 38 (so also 43) may compromise a single pin through the eccentric element, or oppositely extending pivots integral with the eccentric-lever arm element. As shown in FIG. 6, each eccentric head 3% is provided with circumferential grooves passing through the lever arm and embraced by a band 41 firmly screw secured to the back of the respective jaw by a screw 42. It is to be understood, however, that within the scope of the invention other types of supports are usable supporting the grip jaws between the eccentrics.

The structure of the lift jaws, and the disposition of the associated elements thus far described may further be gathered from the vertical section in FIG. 5 of the support or holding jaw arrangement yet to be described, since the jaw guiding carriage plate pair, eccentrics, jaw retaining bands and links for the upper and lower jaw assembly are essentially similar and have identical arrangement and geometric disposition.

A further distinctive feature of the invention appears in FIG. 6, where a preferred dihedral form of the rodengaging jaw faces or sides, shown in horizontal section, provides on each jaw a central longitudinal vertical debris-gathering groove 69 in which dirt, rust and grease and the like may accumulate rather than remaining on the gripping surfaces between the jaws and the rod. By means of a wire introduced from time to time through the elongations 29a (mentioned above in the description of FIG. 2) on the top of the housing, these grooves can be easily kept clean and free for the reception of further dirt. It is also to be noted in FIG. 3 (more clearly seen in FIG. 5 for the lower or support jaw pair 79) that, for better engagement of the climb rod 23, the upper grip or lift jaws 40 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the grip surfaces with teeth 68.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, at both sides of the coupling element 46, centrally secured right angle pieces 64 mount respective guide bars or rods 65 extending upwardly parallel to the rod 23 to project through the corresponding perforated cars 37 of the jaw carriage 36, guiding the latter to move in a parallel to the rod 23. About each guide bar 65 there is disposed a respective spiral compression spring 66, bearing endwise against the corresponding car 37 and against either a fixed abutment or preferably, as here shown, a spring bias adjusting nut 67 on a threaded portion of the guide rod.

LIFT JAW ACTUATING MECHANISM The coupling element 46 (see FIG. 7) comprises an approximately cross-shaped body longitudinally movable along, and centrally apertured to receive the rod 23. In the ends of the body are supported the pins 45 for the link pairs 44; and centrally on both sides of the body respective, opposed, outwardly extending aligned pivot pin projections 47 receive the respective top ends of two drive connecting rods 48 appropriately secured thereon. The latter are reciprocated and swung, after the fashion of piston connecting rods, each by an eccentric 77 of a gear type driving disk 49 rotatable on a respective shaft 52 as hereinafter described. As shown more clearly in FIG. 7, the pivot pins 38, 43, 45, and also the pivots 47, as numerically designated only in FIG. 7 for the latter, have their respective pivoting elements secured by washers 83 and roll or cotter pins 84 at their ends.

The lower ends of the connecting rods 48 embrace the eccentric formations 77 on respective gear disks 49 rotatably supported by a corresponding shaft or pin 52 between the respective disk-embracing and locating upright support plate pairs 32 symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the rod 23 (see FIG. 2). Each disk 49 has teeth 50 meshing with a respective pinion 54 keyed to a drive shaft 56 journalled in the spaced uprights 58 on the outwardly projecting platform portion 35 of the mid plate 26. A worm gear or wheel 59 centrally keyed on shaft 56 meshes with a worm 60, shaft end portions 61 of which are rotatably supported in the upright joumalling blocks or support lugs 63. The worm is driven by an electric motor detachably connectable to the forwardly projecting rectangularly sectioned shank end 62 of the worm shaft, for example, by a small portable electric motor, say an electric hand drill with output shaft chucked on the rectangular shank 62.

SUPPORT OR HOLDING J AW ASSEMBLY Basically the structure of the support or holding jaw assembly is similar to that of the lift jaw assembly. Accordingly not only FIG. 5 and the lower portion of FIGS. 3 and 4, but also (though differing in applied numerals) the horizontal section in FIG. 6 should be referred to. Here again in an arrangemwnt symmetrical about the climb rod 23, a lower jaw carriage is comprised of two jaw guide plates 70a having perforated cars 71 slideably supported and guided on guide bars or rods 78 extending upwardly from the nuts 34 welded on bottom plate 27, parallel to rod 23 for vertical jaw reciprocability. Again on each guide rod 78 there is coaxially disposed a spiral compression spring with ends bearing against the respective ear 71 and against a fixed abutment or a spring force adjustment nut 82 threaded on the guide rod; and accordingly the springs 80 upwardly bias the carriage 70.

Again between the plates 70a, 'pivot means 72 pivotally support the eccentric elements 73, the pivots 74 of which, through respective pairs of link plates 75, are connected or linked by pivot pins 76 to the upright anchor elements 33 on the housing bottom plate 27.

OPERATION When a drive motor is connected to and drives the rectangular shank 62 of the worm 60, obviously through gear 59, shaft 56 and pinions 54, the gears 49 are simultaneously rotated, and hence through the similarly oriented eccentrics 77 and connecting rods 48, the coupling element 46 is vertically reciprocated.

At the beginning of a motion of element 46 upward from the position of FIG. 3, since the upper or lift grip jaws 40 still are pressed into firm clamping engagement with rod 23 and hence the carriage 36 is stationary on the rod, springs 66 are thereby compressed against the cars 37, until through the links 44 swinging outwardly the eccentrics 39 are turned to such extent that the jaws 40 no longer are pressed by the eccentrics into gripping engagement with the climb rod. Immediately upon release of the jaws 40 from the rod, the carriage 36 and therewith eccentrics 39 and jaws 40 are moved upward along the rod and relative to the housing through the force of the previously compressed springs 66; and as the linkage system straightens, eccentrics 39 are swung by the links 44 to bring the lift jaws again into firm gripping engagement with the rod 23, which grip is increased with an incipient downward movement tendency of the coupling element 46 under the action of the connecting rods 48. During this entire action housing 24 has not moved.

Thereafter the carriage 36 with gripping jaws 40, the links 44, element 46 and connecting rods 48 cannot follow the downward component of motion of the powerdriven eccentrics 77. Rather, through the shafts 52 and anchor plate elements 32, the entire jack mechanism housing 24 and therewith the form frame box 10 are lifted, with these parts loading the rod 23 centrally or symmetrically through the lift grip jaws 40.

Up to and for a short interval after the moment when the housing starts upward, the lower or support grip jaws 79 in carriage 70 have been standing in a firm gripping engagemwnt with the rod and, while the housing is stationary, supporting the entire apparatus on the rod. Now during that short interval of initial upward housing movement, the springs 80 are also compressed between the stationary ears 71 and nuts 72, until the eccentrics '73 through the links 75 are turned to such degree that the jaws 79 are released from the rod. As soon as the jaws 70 release, jaw carriage 70 moves up wardly relative to the housing and rod 23 with relief of such compression of springs 80. The upward motion of jaw carriage 70 relative to the housing 24, of course, in extending the linkage system turns the eccentrics 73 so as to cause a re-engagement of jaws 70 with rod 23, with engagement maintained by the preset spring bias force. This behavior of the lower jaw assembly occurs after the upper or lift jaws 40 have been urged again into firm clamping engagemwnt with the rod 23.

After the eccentrics 77 pass the lower dead center point (at which they appear in FIG. 3), the driving rods 48 again start to move the coupling element 46 upwardly, beginning anew the aforedescribed cycle of operations.

in the frame 10, a plurality of rods 23 through respective sheathes 22 may be used as guides for stability, especially to prevent swinging of the apparatus about a vertical axis, though jack units 12 need not be used at each such rod.

The jacking device or driving mechanism of the invention can also be used for withdrawal of the climb rod after completion of the concrete work. To do this the jack mechanism requires only to be inverted through 180 on the form framing box 10. For this reason the jack mechanism is secured releasably on 10 for forming use by known means, as by clamp devices or simply bolts passed through apertures in the housing bottom plate 27 into the top of 10, with correspondingly placed holes in top plate 25 if desired for use in rod withdrawal. Since rod withdrawal requires a smaller force, a higher speed motor is advantageously used, which can be mounted securely on the apparatus. Also for this purpose there may be used a worm and gear combination with a higher transmission ratio.

in a practical application, the jack mechanism was driven by an electric drill having a 420 watt rating and a speed of from 1,800 to 2,000 rpm. Thereby a weight of about 1 metric ton was raised 10 centimeters along the climb rod within 30 seconds.

Due to the positive slip free upward motion of the slide forms, there is attained an exact lift force and shift so that with convergent or tapering slide forming the side elements and motions can be coupled with one another through appropriate accessory equipment, since they can be precisely calculated through the rotational number of the drive shaft. The shears type action of the grip jaw eccentrics effects a simple secure application of the grip jaws on the rod 23.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of the represented embodiment which is given by way of explanation and not in limitation of the scope of the invention and that it can be subjected to many modifications within the scope and knowledge of the technical man.

lclaim:

1. Progressive form apparatus for concrete construction work comprising:

a climb rod; a vertically movable form framing box disposed suspended from said rod extending upwardly therethrough, said box having form panels secured therein and progressively defining the poured concrete section as the box is moved on said rod disposed within the section in which concrete is being poured, and said form panels being mounted in said frame box adjustably as to mutual spacing and angular disposition, and a jack mechanism disposed above said box in engagement with the climb rod and serving to supportively engage said box with and lift it along said rod, and having a structure symmetrically disposed about and engaging the climb rod for symmetric balanced application to the rod of the forces arising from the suspension of said box and form panels and movement thereof by the jack on the rod; said jack mechanism comprising: a housing with said rod extending longitudinally therethrough, two rod-gripping jaw pairs in the housing spaced from each axially other along the rod, the jaw pairs movable relative to one another and the housing in a direction longitudinal of the rod, and altematingly pressed into gripping engagement and released from the rod,

one jaw pair being actuatable to as a lift jaw pair and the other pair self-actuating to serve as a support jaw pair, the two gripping jaws of each pair disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of the rod in a respective jaw carriage,and being supported movably into gripping engagement on the climb rod by respective eccentric elements in the carriage, the eccentric elements of the lift jaw pair being connected by link means linked pivotally with a coupling element vertically reciprocatable along the climb rod; coupling element reciprocating means including motor-powered eccentric-bearing disks rotatably supported in the housing on both sides of the climb rod and respective connecting rods extending generally parallel to the climb rod pivotally connected between the coupling element and respective eccentrics of said disks;

said coupling element having a body embracing and movable along said climb rod and carrying lift jaw carriage engaging guide rods extending parallel to the climb rod;

and a helical compression spring disposed about each guide rod bearing against an abutment on the guide rod and against the lift jaw carriage.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

said abutment comprises a spring force adjusting nut threaded on the respective guide rod.

4. A jack apparatus engaging a climb rod to move progressive forming and like equipment in concrete construction work, said jack apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to receive said rod extending centrally longitudinally therethrough, and as a unit securable to forming or like structures; two rod-gripping jaw pairs disposed in, and toward respective opposite ends of, the housing, one jaw pair actuatable to serve as a lift jaw pair and the other pair self-actuating to serve as a support jaw pair in gripping the rod at longitudinally spaced locations,

the jaw pairs movable relative to one another and to the housing in a direction longitudinal of the rod, and alternatingly pressed into gripping engagement with and released from the rod; the two gripping jaws of each pair supported in a respective jaw carriage, in opposed relation and on opposite sides of the rod and movably toward and away from gripping engagement with the rod,

said carriage pivotally supporting respective eccentric elements by pivoting of which the respective jaws are moved into and released from gripping engagement with the rod; a coupling element having a body embracing the climb rod and vertically reciprocatable in the housing along the rod; respective pivotal link means connecting the eccentric elements of the lift jaw pair to the coupling body to pivot the eccentric elements upon reciprocation of the coupling element; coupling element reciprocating means comprising eccentric-carrying disks rotatably supported in the housing on both sides of and adjacent the climb rod and parallel respective connecting rods immediately adjacent the climb rod and pivotally connected between the coupling element body and respective eccentrics of said disks; and

means drivable by a separate portable motor unit for simultaneously rotating said disks and so reciprocating said coupling element thereby to actuate the lift jaw pair.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein:

said reciprocating means includes said coupling element body carrying lift jaw carriage engaging guide rods extending parallel to the climb rod, and a helical compression spring disposed about each guide rod bearing against an abutment on the uide rod and a ai tth lift ri 'aw carria e. 6. apparatus as de sciibed i n cla im s wherein:

the eccentric elements of the support jaw pair are connected by pivotal links to anchors on the jack housing;

the carriage for the support jaw pair being slideably displaceably guided upon guide rods secured to the said housing to extend parallel to and on opposite sides of the climb rod;

respective helical compression springs being disposed on the last said guide rods to bear against an abutment on the respective guide rod and against the support jaw carriage.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein each said abutment comprises a spring force adjusting nut threaded on the respective guide rod.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said motor-drivable means comprises eccentric-bearing gear disks in mesh with respective drive pinions secured on a shaft rotatably supported in said housing,

a worm gear wheel secured on the said shaft, said worm gear wheel meshed with a worm journalled in the jack housing, and

means for connecting the worm with a drive motor.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein: the last said means comprises a worm axle shaft extension providing a coupling formation for a driving coupling engagement with a portable electric drill as the said drive motor.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein:

said shaft is rotatably supported at its ends in respective journal blocks rigidly secured in said housing, and

said eccentric-carrying gear disks are locatingly embraced between respective pairs of support plates rigidly secured in said housing and supporting respective shafts for the said gear disks.

1]. Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said extension comprises a rectangular shank on the worm shaft.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein each of the said gripping jaws has a dirt gathering groove in its climb rod engaging face and running parallel to the climb rod.

13. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the said gripping jaws at least on the upper andlower ends of their climb rod engaging faces have teeth for an improved force transmitting climb rod engagement.

14. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein that the said gripping jaws are each loosely secured on an eccentric portion of a respective eccentric element by a screw-held retaining band.

15. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein at least each of the jaws of said lift jaw pair has a gripping side provided by two vertical dihedral angularly disposed flat faces whereby each of the said jaws provides a pair of vertical contacts with the climb rod. 

1. Progressive form apparatus for concrete construction work comprising: a climb rod; a vertically movable form framing box disposed suspended from said rod extending upwardly therethrough, said box having form panels secured therein and progressively defining the poured concrete section as the box is moved on said rod disposed within the section in which concrete is being poured, and said form panels being mounted in said frame box adjustably as to mutual spacing and angular disposition, and a jack mechanism disposed above said box in engagement with the climb rod and serving to supportively engage said box with and lift it along said rod, and having a structure symmetrically disposed about and engaging the climb rod for symmetric balanced application to the rod of the forces arising from the suspension of said box and form panels and movement thereof by the jack on the rod; said jack mechanism comprising: a housing with said rod extending longitudinally therethrough, two rod-gripping jaw pairs in the housing spaced from each axially other along the rod, the jaw pairs movable relative to one another and the housing in a direction longitudinal of the rod, and alternatingly pressed into gripping engagement and released from the rod, one jaw pair being actuatable to as a lift jaw pair and the other pair self-actuating to serve as a support jaw pair, the two gripping jaws of each pair disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of the rod in a respective jaw carriage,and being supported movably into gripping engagement on the climb rod by respective eccentric elements in the carriage, the eccentric elements of the lift jaw pair being connected by link means linked pivotally with a coupling element vertically reciprocatable along the climb rod; coupling element reciprocating means including motor-powered eccentric-bearing disks rotatably supported in the housing on both sides of the climb rod and respective connecting rods extending generally parallel to the climb rod pivotally connected between the coupling element and respective eccentrics of said disks; said coupling element having a body embracing and movable along said climb rod and carrying lift jaw carriage engaging guide rods extending parallel to the climb rod; and a helical compression spring disposed about each guide rod bearing against an abutment on the guide rod and against the lift jaw carriage.
 2. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: the eccentric elements of the support jaw pair are connected by pivotal links to anchors on the jack housing; the carriage for the support jaw pair being slideably displaceably guided upon guide rods secured to the said housing to extend parallel to and on opposite sides of the climb rod; respective helical compression springs being disposed on the last said guide rods to bear against an abutment on the respective guide rod and against the support jaw carriage.
 3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein each said abutment comprises a spring force adjusting nut threaded on the respective guide rod.
 4. A jack apparatus engaging a climb rod to move progressive forming and like equipment in concrete construction work, said jack apparatus comprising: a hOusing adapted to receive said rod extending centrally longitudinally therethrough, and as a unit securable to forming or like structures; two rod-gripping jaw pairs disposed in, and toward respective opposite ends of, the housing, one jaw pair actuatable to serve as a lift jaw pair and the other pair self-actuating to serve as a support jaw pair in gripping the rod at longitudinally spaced locations, the jaw pairs movable relative to one another and to the housing in a direction longitudinal of the rod, and alternatingly pressed into gripping engagement with and released from the rod; the two gripping jaws of each pair supported in a respective jaw carriage, in opposed relation and on opposite sides of the rod and movably toward and away from gripping engagement with the rod, said carriage pivotally supporting respective eccentric elements by pivoting of which the respective jaws are moved into and released from gripping engagement with the rod; a coupling element having a body embracing the climb rod and vertically reciprocatable in the housing along the rod; respective pivotal link means connecting the eccentric elements of the lift jaw pair to the coupling body to pivot the eccentric elements upon reciprocation of the coupling element; coupling element reciprocating means comprising eccentric-carrying disks rotatably supported in the housing on both sides of and adjacent the climb rod and parallel respective connecting rods immediately adjacent the climb rod and pivotally connected between the coupling element body and respective eccentrics of said disks; and means drivable by a separate portable motor unit for simultaneously rotating said disks and so reciprocating said coupling element thereby to actuate the lift jaw pair.
 5. Apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein: said reciprocating means includes said coupling element body carrying lift jaw carriage engaging guide rods extending parallel to the climb rod, and a helical compression spring disposed about each guide rod bearing against an abutment on the guide rod and against the lift grip jaw carriage.
 6. Apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein: the eccentric elements of the support jaw pair are connected by pivotal links to anchors on the jack housing; the carriage for the support jaw pair being slideably displaceably guided upon guide rods secured to the said housing to extend parallel to and on opposite sides of the climb rod; respective helical compression springs being disposed on the last said guide rods to bear against an abutment on the respective guide rod and against the support jaw carriage.
 7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein each said abutment comprises a spring force adjusting nut threaded on the respective guide rod.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said motor-drivable means comprises eccentric-bearing gear disks in mesh with respective drive pinions secured on a shaft rotatably supported in said housing, a worm gear wheel secured on the said shaft, said worm gear wheel meshed with a worm journalled in the jack housing, and means for connecting the worm with a drive motor.
 9. An apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein: the last said means comprises a worm axle shaft extension providing a coupling formation for a driving coupling engagement with a portable electric drill as the said drive motor.
 10. Apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein: said shaft is rotatably supported at its ends in respective journal blocks rigidly secured in said housing, and said eccentric-carrying gear disks are locatingly embraced between respective pairs of support plates rigidly secured in said housing and supporting respective shafts for the said gear disks.
 11. Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said extension comprises a rectangular shank on the worm shaft.
 12. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein each of the said gripping jaws has a dirt gathering grOove in its climb rod engaging face and running parallel to the climb rod.
 13. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the said gripping jaws at least on the upper and lower ends of their climb rod engaging faces have teeth for an improved force transmitting climb rod engagement.
 14. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein that the said gripping jaws are each loosely secured on an eccentric portion of a respective eccentric element by a screw-held retaining band.
 15. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein at least each of the jaws of said lift jaw pair has a gripping side provided by two vertical dihedral angularly disposed flat faces whereby each of the said jaws provides a pair of vertical contacts with the climb rod. 